Absolute Energy ethanol plant and Western Dubuque Biodiesel both recently completed a seeding of Monarch Fueling Stations on their property to provide crucial habitat for monarch butterflies.

The seed mixture included native grasses and other plants that attract pollinators but had a special emphasis on milkweed plants. Milkweed is the only plant monarchs can lay their eggs on.

Both Absolute Energy with its 1.3-acre station and Western Dubuque Biodiesel with three acres began prepping the ground last summer with help from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), which established the project in partnership with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium in December 2017.